Scores of people die yearly from diseases that could be treated and cured if only they had a matching bone marrow donor. These deaths occur in children, young adults, mothers, fathers, wives, and husbands. The saddest part is that many of them die even though there is a perfect match 2 states over, down the street, or even next door, but no one knew because they weren't registered.

Only about 30% of the people who need a bone marrow transplant will have an acceptable match in their family which makes the bone marrow registry critical for the majority of patients who need this life saving procedure. Unfortunately just 3% of Americans have registered with the national bone marrow registry and an ideal match can be a very rare thing. Although there are approximately 10 million possible donors in the registry about 1,000 people die every year because they don't have a match. That's 1,000 people every year who might be alive today if all eligible donors just took the time to swab their cheeks.

Joining the bone marrow registry is easier than ever. Not too long ago it required a trip to a lab or participation in a special bone marrow drive, but not today. Now you can register from the comfort of your own home. To register all you have to do is sign up with Be The Match through the web site listed below and they will send you a kit. Swab your cheek, send it back, and Be the Match will do the rest.

Less than 1 out of every 540 people who submit samples will ever be asked to be a donor. Of these about 30% will be asked to donate bone marrow and the rest will only be asked to donate blood from which stem cells can be extracted and transplanted. Submitting your sample to the registry does not obligate you to donate bone marrow or stem cells, but it gives you the option and it gives someone else a chance at life.